Public Safety Oregon
Benjamin C. Serrato, 40, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Christopher Libert.
(The Oregonian/File)
A 40-year-old Portland man accused of killing his boyfriend at Dougan Falls denied causing his death and claimed the man took his own life, court documents said.
Benjamin Serrato, 40, told investigators Christopher Libert was suicidal and asked for Serrato's help to kill himself, according to a probable cause affidavit. Serrato said he drove his boyfriend to Dougan Falls on March 31, kissed him, gave him his last rites and then watched him walk down a trail toward the river's edge.
Authorities discovered Libert's body on April 1 about 15 feet down an embankment, lying face-down without shoes. He had 11 stab wounds in his neck, chest and back, as well as two gunshot wounds in his head, the affidavit said.
Serrato faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with Libert's death.
During an interview on April 5 at the Skamania County Sheriff's Office, Serrato said he didn't know how Libert, 40, planned to kill himself. He said he didn't see him carrying any weapons. Serrato took a polygraph exam, showing he was likely lying when he denied killing Libert, the affidavit said.
Serrato and Libert had been living together in Portland on and off over the last four years, the affidavit said. When investigators first contacted Serrato on April 3, he said he hadn't seen Libert since March 30, when they argued about Libert's romantic relationship with a woman.
Libert was seeing Serrato and the woman at the same time, the affidavit said. The woman and Serrato knew each other, and at one point, all three lived together.
According to the affidavit, the woman said Serrato had been trying to end her relationship with Libert for several months. Serrato gave Libert an ultimatum to choose him or the woman, but Libert continued to see her behind Serrato's back.
The woman said she saw Serrato on April 1 when he came by her job. He asked her if she'd seen Libert, and she said she hadn't. Serrato claimed Libert shot his front tire and he didn't know where Libert was, the affidavit said.
Serrato told investigators he replaced a tire April 2.
According to the affidavit, surveillance footage from the tire store showed Serrato driving a Honda Accord that had tires with the same pattern seen in the mud near where Libert was found.
-- Everton Bailey Jr.
ebailey@oregonian.com
503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey